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CU history department to get boost from German beer importer

Gift from graduate Walter Driskill totals $725,000

By Brittany Anas Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
09/11/2009 10:59:59 PM MDT

Updated:
09/11/2009 11:00:30 PM MDT

The University of Colorado's history department is poised to receive a $725,000 gift from the estate of one of its former students who played football for the Buffs in the 1930s and eventually created the company that imports Beck's beer.

The gift from Walter and Lucienne Driskill -- which is pending approval from CU's Board of Regents -- is set aside to teach Western American history.

Walter Driskill earned his bachelor's in history from CU in 1936 and his master's in history four years later. While at CU, he lettered three times as a tackle and was a teammate of CU football legend Byron "Whizzer" White, according to Dave Plati, spokesman for the athletic department.

He went on in 1967 to become the creator and owner of Dribeck Importers Inc., the North American importer of Beck's beer, a German brew. He and his wife lived in Greenwich, Conn., and Delray Beach, Fla.

Walter Driskill died in July 1998, and Lucienne Driskill died in May.

Susan Kent, chairwoman of CU's Department of History, said the money will be used to help fund research and teaching on Western American topics -- which could include Latin America and Canada -- and the department needs to decide what time periods to explore.

"It's the kind of gift with which we can develop a very strong program in Western American history," she said.

CU's Board of Regents meets Wednesday in Boulder and will vote on establishing the endowment.

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